This has nothing to do with Shaughnessy. and there's a very real chance that NE will make it to the AFC championship. The Colts are just as good, and just as lucky as the Pats have been. Foxboro will make a win for them tough though.

somedude210:BunkoSquad: "ha, ha, you suckers thought this team was invincible"

You're an idiot, no one is saying that. Hell, I'm impressed we made it this far...but then again the AFC East isn't what it used to be.

No, I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying that's what Shank will say in his Monday column if they lose. I've been watching this team all year; the Pats COULD beat anybody, but they could just as easily lose to anyone.

BunkoSquad:No, I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying that's what Shank will say in his Monday column if they lose. I've been watching this team all year; the Pats COULD beat anybody, but they could just as easily lose to anyone.

okay okay, my mistake. The Pats are the Justin Beiber of the Sports Tab (which makes sense, since we have Justin Beiber for a QB)

and I agree, it could be that we'll lose it. I think it's more likely that we'll win at home, in the playoffs, with a healthy Brady (though his passing has been lackluster of late...and that worries me)

factoryconnection:It is fun to see Farkers get all indignant about trolling, like we'd never do such a thing. "Leave the half-witted hack-jobs to us, Shaugnessy!"

It's just that (a) Shaughnessy's trolling is 100% predictable and paint-by-numbers, (b) someone actually pays him a salary to do it, and pays to send him on the road to cover large events, and (c) as somedude210 said, people outside New England read CHB and think he speaks for us when locals generally hate him with the fire of a thousand suns.

BunkoSquad:factoryconnection: It is fun to see Farkers get all indignant about trolling, like we'd never do such a thing. "Leave the half-witted hack-jobs to us, Shaugnessy!"

It's just that (a) Shaughnessy's trolling is 100% predictable and paint-by-numbers, (b) someone actually pays him a salary to do it, and pays to send him on the road to cover large events, and (c) as somedude210 said, people outside New England read CHB and think he speaks for us when locals generally hate him with the fire of a thousand suns.

So... he's an East coast Whitlock with less pointless race-baiting?

/Having him and Poz in KC for 15 years was truly like seeing each side of sports journalism every morning

I liked Boston fans more when about 20 years ago when they were still lovable losers, instead of the insufferable front-runners they've become since all their teams started winning championships in the Aughts.

I was listening to the radio last night and these guys are talking Super Bowl already. They are saying that there are no good defenses in the AFC and if the Pats do lose it will be because the offense fails.

They went on to talk about the 2007 Super Bowl being a "screw job."

I cant tell if they are playing to their moronic callers (Boston callers are somehow worse than the hosts) or if they are actually blind homers.

I LOVE sports talk (I listen to NY sports talk all day) but Boston isnt fun, it is just annoying. And I like some of the teams they cover.

Doc Daneeka:I liked Boston fans more when about 20 years ago when they were still lovable losers, instead of the insufferable front-runners they've become since all their teams started winning championships in the Aughts.

So the same people who were lovable losers because the were fans of Boston teams became "front runners" when the team started winning? How does that make sense.

I'm more surprised that Kaufman beat Shaughnessy to the punch on the trolly 'handily beating the Colts' thing. Both teams have streaky offenses, aren't immune to turnovers, and it might 40 degrees and pouring. Sure the Pats are favored, but I'm not sure of anything until the clock hits zero Saturday night.

Gunny Highway:Doc Daneeka: I liked Boston fans more when about 20 years ago when they were still lovable losers, instead of the insufferable front-runners they've become since all their teams started winning championships in the Aughts.

So the same people who were lovable losers because the were fans of Boston teams became "front runners" when the team started winning? How does that make sense.

There's a lot more of them now. I'm from New England, and I never saw anyone wearing Patriot shirts in the nineties. Now it seems that everyone owns a complete set and is quick to tell you how much they've always supported the team, despite the fact the Patriots almost moved to St. Louis due to lack of fan support.

The Red Sox fans keep trying to portray themselves as the little guys fighting the big bad Yankees. In 2004 they had the second highest payroll and spent $61 million more than the Rockies. In 2007, second again, $55 million more than the Cardinals. They went from never winning to if they don't win, someone else screwed them over.

vladimpaler:The Red Sox fans keep trying to portray themselves as the little guys fighting the big bad Yankees. In 2004 they had the second highest payroll and spent $61 million more than the Rockies. In 2007, second again, $55 million more than the Cardinals. They went from never winning to if they don't win, someone else screwed them over.

cleveoh:Ahem, the Pats nearly lost to the Browns & in fact, would have lost if not for a major 4th quarter assist from the refs.

& man, do the Browns stink.

So yeah, Colts by 9.

This is terrific logic; The Pats beat a bad team (with a legit PI call at the end because a player impeded a sure touchdown) so the Colts are going to win by 9.Don't forget the quaterback's name is Luck, and they have horseshoes on their helmets! Colts by 17!

I don't think this is the main issue - yes, Gronk would help a lot, but I'd still put the Pats offense right now against anyone; yes they'd struggle more against a Seattle or Carolina defense. My problem with their Superbowl chances is that their defense will struggle to keep any of the current contenders under 30. In normal-ish weather conditions, Manning and Brees could put up 50, Rivers, Wilson, Kaepernick, Luck - any of these guys would surprise me to not put up 35.

vladimpaler:There's a lot more of them now. I'm from New England, and I never saw anyone wearing Patriot shirts in the nineties. Now it seems that everyone owns a complete set and is quick to tell you how much they've always supported the team, despite the fact the Patriots almost moved to St. Louis due to lack of fan support.

Being good results in people having more interest in the team. I am sure they were fans when they were bad, they just didnt get gear for Christmas.

vladimpaler:The Red Sox fans keep trying to portray themselves as the little guys fighting the big bad Yankees. In 2004 they had the second highest payroll and spent $61 million more than the Rockies. In 2007, second again, $55 million more than the Cardinals. They went from never winning to if they don't win, someone else screwed them over.

This is not true. Message board narrative are as bad as the sports media narratives.

That reminded me a lot of the infamous Jacksonville column Woody Paige wrote back in Jan '97 when the Jags came in and made Romo look stupid . . . and the rest of the Broncos team. The Jags to this day will tell you the column helped motivate them for the upset.